Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looks to pass against Houston in the first half of a NCAA college football game against Houston in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)

Oregon's quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to pass against Arizona in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Miller)

With six weeks left in the NFL regular season, there’s still plenty of time to come up with a consensus catch phrase in the race to land Teddy Bridgewater.

Among those thrown out so far are “Tank for Teddy” and “Play dead for Ted.” Some Jacksonville Jaguars fans are trying to popularize “Get slaughtered for Bridgewater.”

Whatever the favorite slogan might become, don’t be surprised if some Vikings fans are chanting it as teams position themselves for the chance to take the Louisville quarterback with the top pick in next May’s draft. Minnesota is 2-8 and among those challenging the 1-9 Jaguars for the NFL’s worst record.

Bridgewater is expected to enter the draft following his junior season. Although not as coveted as Andrew Luck was before going No. 1 overall to the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, he still could be quite a prize for a team desperate for a quarterback.

Such as the Vikings. General manager Rick Spielman said in early November that if he doesn’t see a franchise quarterback emerge this season among his current trio, he will look to draft one. So far, no takers.

Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman have all started at least once this season; all have struggled. Ponder played well in a Nov. 7 win over Washington before self-destructing with two interceptions in a 41-20 loss at Seattle last weekend. Nevertheless, he will start for the eighth time Sunday at Green Bay.

“No question, the Vikings are in the conversation to draft a quarterback high in next year’s draft,” said Dane Brugler, a senior analyst at NFLDraftScout.com and CBSSports.com. “They drafted Christian Ponder in the first round (No. 12 in 2011), and it’s fair to say it hasn’t worked out the way they wanted. They can do better at the quarterback position.”

But how much do the Vikings need to better their draft position to land a potential franchise quarterback?

Draft analysts generally rate Oregon’s Marcus Mariota No. 2 among quarterbacks who will be available, and he could go immediately after Bridgewater if he declares for the draft following his redshirt sophomore season. But after those two, there looks to be a drop-off.

The next three prospects are Texas A&M redshirt sophomore Johnny Manziel, Fresno State senior Derek Carr and UCLA redshirt junior Brett Hundley, although Hundley appears the most likely of the top underclassmen to stay in school.

“If both (Bridgewater and Mariota) come out, they could go 1 and 2,” Brugler said. “The others could go between 3 and 15.”

The longer the Vikings have to wait, the more they risk.

“They need a guy who can step up and take the reins at quarterback,” Kevin Weidl, a draft analyst for Scouts Inc. and for ESPN. “Obviously, 1 or 2 is ideal, but you want to at least be in the top five.”

The Vikings don’t want to get caught by a run on quarterbacks that costs them one of the signal callers they want. Many critics believe they reached on Ponder; Weidl said Scouts Inc. had rated him as a second-round selection.

A number of teams in the mix for top picks also need quarterbacks. The Jaguars seem almost certain to take one. Then come Atlanta (2-9), Minnesota, Houston (2-8), Tampa Bay (2-8) and Washington (3-7). The Texans and Buccaneers could take quarterbacks. The Falcons, with Matt Ryan, and the Redskins, with Robert Griffin III, could trade down to a team that would.

It’s hardly out of the question the Vikings will finish 2-14, which would be the worst record in the team’s 53-year history. They don’t figure to be favored in any game the remainder of the season, starting at Green Bay, where they will be four-point underdogs.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars and Texans meet twice over the next three weeks, so something has to give there.

Of course, 2-14 wouldn’t do much for the future of coach Leslie Frazier, who is in the option year of his contract. And it wouldn’t say much for Ponder, who was supposed to be the franchise quarterback and seems destined to be replaced. Still, Spielman’s comments about potentially drafting Ponder’s replacement haven’t seemed to faze him.

“Honestly, I’m not focused on it,” Ponder said this week. “There’s enough pressure going on in this position. And if you start worrying about those things, it’s only going to make it worse.”

If the Vikings take a quarterback in the first round, it likely would mark the highest they ever have drafted one. The only previous quarterbacks taken by Minnesota in the first round were Daunte Culpepper, who went 11th in 1999, Ponder and Tommy Kramer, taken No. 27 in 1977.

Here’s a look at the five quarterbacks generally regarded as the top prospects for the 2014 draft:

1. Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville, junior, 6 feet 3, 205 pounds

Bridgewater is a three-year starter who led the Cardinals to a BCS bowl game last season and is trying to get them to another. He has a nice touch and good accuracy. He has good mobility, making him a strong running threat.

There have been questions about the competition Bridgewater has faced in the American Athletic Conference, and his ability to throw the ball downfield with touch has been scrutinized.

Analyst’s take: “To me, Teddy Bridgewater is a taller Russell Wilson,” said Brugler, referring to Seattle’s 5-11 quarterback. “He’s a pro-style quarterback. He’s really smart. Not only does he have the arm and athleticism, he has what it takes above the shoulders.”

2. Marcus Mariota, Oregon, redshirt sophomore, 6-4, 212

Mariota is in his second season as the Ducks’ starter. They suffered a 26-20 loss at Stanford this month, which likely knocked them out of the national title chase. Mariota has great arm strength and is extremely athletic, enabling him to take off and outrun defenders.

Mariota turned 20 only last month, and some analysts believe he should return to school to gain additional experience. Brugler said the only redshirt sophomore quarterbacks to have been drafted in the first round since 1990 are Todd Marinovich in 1991, Tommy Maddox in 1992 and Michael Vick in 2000. Only Vick had any real NFL success.

Analyst’s take: “Mariota has a huge ceiling,” said Weidl, noting Scouts Inc. has the Oregon star rated the No. 1 quarterback overall. “He’s in the Colin Kaepernick mold. I see a lot of comparisons. He’s a guy, when he takes off, he’s a dynamic runner. He’s improved as a passer this year. He’s gotten bigger. He’s throwing the ball with more velocity.”

3. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, redshirt sophomore, 5-11, 210

Manziel burst on the scene last season to win the Heisman Trophy, and the legend of “Johnny Football” has continued this season with several big games. He is a gifted athlete who can run and pass effectively. He has good leadership qualities, and his big hands help him control the ball in traffic.

Manziel has had several off-the-field incidents at Texas A&M, and he clearly enjoys the nightlife. He doesn’t have a big frame and seems to get banged up, although it’s hard to knock him out of a game.

Analyst’s take: “Manziel is just a lightning rod at quarterback,” Brugler said. “A lot of teams will love him, and a lot of teams want nothing to do with him. I have questions about how his body will hold up. I think a team in the top 10 will take a chance on him because he does have a lot of talent. He just makes plays. He’s kind of like Doug Flutie, with a backyard style of play. But will that work at the next level?”

4. Derek Carr, Fresno State, senior, 6-3, 215

Carr’s older brother, David, was a quarterback drafted No. 1 overall by the expansion Texans in 2002. David was mediocre in 11 NFL seasons. Derek Carr has the Bulldogs battling for a BCS bowl berth. He has a strong arm and can throw the ball all over the field. At 22 and married with a son, Carr is considered agreeably mature.

But he hasn’t faced the best opposition in the Mountain West Conference and might not have as much upside as some of the younger prospects in the draft.

Analyst’s take: “He’s had a heck of a year, and Derek Carr is going to be the top senior (prospect), more than likely,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said on a recent conference call. “He’s got the quick release. He can move around. He’s athletic. He’s a smart kid. Great character. Great leadership.”

5. Brett Hundley, UCLA, redshirt sophomore, 6-3, 222

Hundley is in his second season as the Bruins’ starter and has completed more than two-thirds of his college passes. He’s tall and strong. He has an impressive arm and a quick release and puts touch on his passes.

Hundley’s ball placement could use some work; he’s had interception problems, throwing two in three different games this season. He’s just 20 and might go a good bit higher if he waits until next year to declare for the draft.

Analyst’s take: “He’s as physically gifted as you’d want a quarterback to be,” Brugler said. “He’s tall and built very good and has a very good arm. But he’s only 20 years old, and mentally he’s not quite there yet.”

Chris joined the Pioneer Press in 2013 to cover the Vikings. He was a longtime NBA writer with the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. Before coming to Minnesota, he covered the Miami Heat and Dolphins for Fox Sports. Chris has won six awards in the past three Pro Football Writers of America contests. Chris is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he spent his college years watching the losingest team in the history of Division I-A football.

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